According to the New York Daily News, Roger Clemens has cut ties with long-time trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee did not attend Clemens’ first bullpen session in Tampa Bay May 14. When questioned by reporters, Clemens “indicated that he had cut ties with the controversial trainer,” and that he was “searching for some people” to help him stay in top physical condition. McNamee worked with Clemens as recently as one week ago, joining Clemens for his workout at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
When asked who he would be training with other than New York Yankees’ personnel Clemens said:
“Nothing right now. To me, what we would consider the little people, mean a lot to me. I know the ones that are passionate about their work and that are very good at their work make a difference behind the scenes.”
“I have some old numbers, searching for some people. Therapists that I’ve had around the country, they know who they are and they’ve helped me greatly, helped my body recover faster. I can’t get soreness out as easy as I used to.”
McNamee helped create extensive workouts for both Clemens and Andy Pettitte. McNamee was hired as the strength and conditioning coach for the Yankees in 2000 with Clemens’ (and likely others) support. McNamee was not retained in 2002 after he was questioned by police in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a woman in a hotel pool late in the 2001 season. Police said the woman ingested the date-rape drug GHB. Charges were never filed against McNamee.
McNamee had previously been linked to the Jason Grimsley case. In an affidavit filed by IRS Special Agent, Jeff Novitzky, Grimsley reportedly had said that McNamee had referred him to a source that eventually provided Grimsley with anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. The affidavit also stated that Grimsley had named Clemens and Pettitte as users of “athletic performance-enhancing drugs.”
